REPORT OF NOVA SCOTIA PROVINCIAL PRESIDENT
MARY MCLEOD

The provincial council had 5,687 members in 2004, a decrease of 109 members from the previous year. While 223 members joined, 454 women did not renew their memberships. This statistic is a challenge for future years ? learning why women do not wish to continue to be members.

In August, the provincial council used a grant from the National Development Fund to bring together the executive members of the three diocesan councils and the provincial council to examine the League's situation. Several goals were set in order to address the identified issues.

The provincial communications chairperson initiated telephone calls to many councils to discuss the League's work at the parish level. She asked why members did not return and stressed the importance of communication between all levels. There was particular concern about whether or not communiqués were passed on to members. The provincial council attempted to address the ?bottleneck? that existed in some councils.

There was a need for more League information to be given to the priests. This was the last objective of the August workshop to be completed, as material was gathered for a kit for priests.

The provincial council became more aggressive in pursuing the objectives of League resolutions. Since it traditionally had difficulty getting meetings with government officials to discuss resolutions, it approached the leaders of the two opposition parties to meet and discuss the 2004 resolution on palliative care funding.

Through the education and health chairperson, members were encouraged to become more aware of ovarian cancer. This was facilitated through distribution of the Listen to the Whispers video to the diocesan education and health chairpersons.

Along with the Knights of Columbus, the provincial council co-sponsored a newspaper advertisement discouraging Sunday shopping. It played at least a small part in the results of the plebiscite in October, which resulted in a year-round ban on Sunday shopping.

Members put a lot of energy into the debate on the definition of marriage. This seemed to be the most pressing political issue. Members were urged to address their concerns to elected federal representatives. This was a painful topic for those people who were not able to enter into the debate, some for family reasons, some because of generation-based differences in opinion. The job of the provincial council was to educate members on the official position of the church and express compassion for those who did not agree.

All diocesan presidents submitted lengthy reports that indicated their councils were very active in all League projects.

Antigonish Diocesan Council

• Members attended a workshop, ?Where We Are as a Church,? facilitated by Bishop Raymond Lahey, Bishop of Antigonish.
• Honorary Life Member Irene Lefort received a Doctor of Laws Degree honoris causa from St. Francis Xavier University.
• The League was represented on various diocesan vocation committees.

  Halifax Diocesan Council

• The final year for the diocesan retreat at Mount St. Vincent Motherhouse, directed by Father Paul Morris, was a prayerful event for all in attendance.
• Father Claude MacLean Education Day was held in November and dealt with spirituality. A presentation was made on the Prayer of Jabez and a workshop conducted on preparation of prayer services, using League resource material. The latter resulted in several submissions for the provincial booklet of prayer services.
• Many members were involved in Forward in Faith, as parishes looked at ways to better deal with the needs of the faithful .

  Yarmouth Diocesan Council

• The White Ribbon Against Pornography campaign was conducted by all councils, something which may not have happened in other dioceses.
• Liaison was made with the Military Ordinariate council within Yarmouth 's boundaries.

In closing, I sincerely thank Provincial Spiritual Advisor Father Jim Smith and all provincial executive members for their dedication in promoting the work of the League. I look forward to another year of working together on the many opportunities to serve ?For God and Canada.?